The Eulogy of Blind Charlie Blue

It was his moment, his final time to shine, his last farewell ride. His meter has expired, his body spent, to his final resting place, to home he went. His story is our story only his has been finished, ready to tell, ready to sell to all those who hear. Listen to his tale, but do not cry, for only on earth did Blind Charlie Blue die. This occasion is not of grief, but of joy, for the Lord Jehovah our God is who took our boy. 

Can I hear an Amen? 
Amen!

This bit is true of our boy blue, he was blessed by the Lord. There ain’t be no other like our fellow brother who could do the slide as good as Brother Blue. An’ he did it with lack of pride too. Oh Charlie Blue, what is it now that you do? Is you playin’ fo’ the almighty Lord an’ his angels too? I asure ya he is. 

Can I get an’ Amen?
Amen!

Blind Charlie Blue warn’t a disciple from the start. It took awhile for the good Lord to change his heart. He began playin’ on an ol’ cigar box as a kid. He be playin’ all day an’ up into the night, yes that’s right, that what he did. The slide never left his finger; he’s even wearin’ it to the grave. He lived on the street corners, earnin’ what peoples gave. When he was a teen he meet his first love, a sunburst archtop he named Ol’ Krafty; the two were snugg as a hand ina glove. He traveled the crossroads, Ol’ Krafty at his side, Playin’ bars and street corners, just drifting in life’s tide. The good Lord blessed this blind man and gave him time to roam. Then he came to us and made this church his holy home.

 Can I hear and Amen?
Amen!

Charlie Blue look at you; all dressed in your brown, blue and white. A feather in brown hat and stripes from head to toe, dressed for the occasion, boy you ready to go. Boy, look at you, aint you a sight. A handsome brother, ready to go for the light. It is a glorious thing. Look, you even have your slide on your pinky as if your ready to make Ol’ Krafty sing. Boy, we is gonna miss you, Blind Brother Blue. We gonna miss hearing the gospel in your true delta blue tune. We know it is the best for you, the good Lord has called your name, but without you the Big Easy ain’t never be the same. We wish we could send with you, Ol’ Krafty at your side, but he too did not make it the night you had died. That night was of the devil, dressed in pale hoods shouting “white pride!”, but on that night the good Lord protected you and gave power to your stride. The last words I said to you were “My Georgia’s still inside!”, then you ran into the flames Lord Jesus as your guide. I witnessed my first miracle that night, Blind Charlie Blue, Lord gave you your sight! You came back coughing with my baby, and I could not believe it, Oh the chills that it gave me. Here came Blind Blue not walkin’ with a cane. He looked at me with dark black eyes as the skies began to rain. And when we looked eye to eye, it was then that I fell down and 
cried,for Charlie Blue had gone an’ died. So Brothers and Sisters let our your moan, but don’t freat too long ‘cause someday we’ll all be goin’ home. When ya’ll are done and your tears are dried, let’s go take Brother Blind Charlie Blue an’ his guitar Ol’ Krafty fo their last farewell ride. 

“Soon and very soon he is gonna see the king”, began to play as the coffin was shut and shoulder by six strong black men. The preacher held Georgia in his arms as he lead the procession out the door. The echos of, “Haleighlujah, haleighlujah he is gonna see the king,” traveled over the smoldering ashes of the church and into the streets of the French Quarter as the congregation flooded the streets like an estuary at high tide. They arrived at one of the many cemeteries in the Big Easy and the singing stopped as the end was now here for his last farewell ride. It had been raining and stopped when his bodies final home hit the ground. The singing started up again as the shovels made their final pound. The songs of celebration in the Big Easy that night never came to an end. The congregation was so joyful over the journey of their friend. 

A single voice could be heard nearing the pearl gates. It was Blind Charlie Blue singing, “Haleighluhjah, Haleighluhjah I have come to see my King!” His voice was then blended into the multitude of voices coming from heaven as Blind Charlie Blue caught sight of Peter, the heavenly guide. And that was the end to Blind Charlie Blue’s farewell ride.